Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. 15 He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, 16 and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” 17 His disciples recalled the words of scripture, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.
Passover is near, and Jesus goes up to Jerusalem. Entering the temple courts, he finds animal sellers and money changers doing business in a place meant for prayer (vv. 13-14).
Pilgrims had come from every region, and many needed priest-approved animals—oxen, sheep, and, for the poor, doves—rather than risk a blemished offering after a long journey. So vendors operated in the outer Court of the Gentiles, outside the temple proper, where animals could be inspected and purchased. Adult males also paid the annual offering—the half-shekel temple tax Jesus addresses in Mt. 17:24-27—customarily in high-silver Tyrian coin, which required money changers to convert local currencies so worshipers could make their offerings in an orderly way.
What served a need had overtaken a space for prayer. Trade had spilled into the Court of the Gentiles, filling it with noise and bargaining. Jesus plaits a whip of cords, drives out the animals, spills coins, and overturns tables. He orders the dove sellers to remove their cages and declares that his Father’s house is not a marketplace (vv. 15-16). The problem is not sacrifice or almsgiving but worship distorted by commerce.
His disciples remember the Scripture: “Zeal for your house will consume me” (Ps. 69:9). Zeal here means ardent love that guards what belongs to God. Jesus’ action springs from filial devotion, not irritation. He protects the temple’s purpose so that all nations can seek the Lord in prayer (v. 17; cf. Is. 56:7).
Leaders demand a sign to justify such authority. Jesus gives one that looks like a riddle but points to the center of his mission: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up” (vv. 18-19). They think of Herod’s temple, under construction for forty-six years, and protest that such a structure cannot rise in three days (v. 20). John explains that Jesus is speaking of the temple of his body (v. 21). God’s dwelling with humanity will no longer be tied to stone courts but to the crucified and risen Christ.
The cleansing exposed empty worship. Only after the Resurrection did the disciples remember Christ’s words; then the sign became clear, and they believed. It pointed to the true sanctuary—Jesus himself. In him, God’s presence, sacrifice, and the meeting place with sinners endure forever. In the mystery of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection, the temple is not abolished but fulfilled; worship now centers on the Son who lays down his life and raises it up (v. 22; cf. Jn. 4:21-24).
Lord Jesus, purify our hearts from noise and distractions that overwhelm our everyday lives. Teach us to love the Father’s presence and to find our worship in you, the true Temple—incarnated, crucified, and risen for us and for our salvation. Amen.
___________________
Sources and References:
- The Holy Bible, New American Bible, Revised Edition (2011): Jn. 2:13-22; Ps. 69:9; Is. 56:7; Jn. 4:21-24; Mt. 17:24-27.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al., eds. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. London: Thomas Nelson, 1953 (John 2; temple commerce and tax background).
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Dublin: Four Courts / Scepter, 2008 (John 2).
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al., eds. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. New York: Paulist Press, 2018 (Commentary on John 2; “temple of his body”).
- Brown, Raymond E., et al., eds. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990 (Temple cleansing; Tyrian coinage and temple tax).
Comments